Food bank being formed
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on May 24, 2006 1:49 PM
The Hispanic Development Center is forming a food bank.
Organizers Willie Cartegena, his wife, Tammy, Guillermo Ortiz and Ana Cruz underwent training at the Raleigh Food Bank, which provides staple items.
"We are official to the point that we can now get food and pass it out," said Ms. Cruz. The center's volunteers have to buy the food from the Raleigh bank but it is reasonably priced, she said.
The group needs loaned and donated items such as large coolers. Ms. Cruz coolers will be returned after they are used during food pick-ups at the Raleigh central bank.
She said the center also needs a used refrigerator as well as volunteers to help with the drive to and from Raleigh.
"We need people with pick-up trucks and man-power to load and unload the food," she said. She noted that although the bank can't afford to pay the gas mileage for volunteers, that they can deduct the expense from their taxes.
She also is asking the public to collect heavy boxes and bags and bring them to the center at 309 Potts Road in Dudley.
The food will be free to the needy, Ms. Cruz said. The volunteers will make the run to Raleigh every other week at first, but that will have to wait until the center gets a refrigerator.
Hours and dates of operation at the food bank will be announced.
For information about the program, people may call Willie Cartegena at 738-0604 or send an email to Ms. Cruz at [email protected].